Double canopy umbrella



United States Patent 135/2OA l35/20A l35/ZOA W. n m m w Mk C mkfl H m m 2 0 l l HWL m Wu 439 H 356 999 H Z49 nh )0 W] 56 853 \rze. 534 am 436 m nn 23 PA H l .l 6 6 S a s n a K V C s a S n m l w MM 90 t Sud l7 EIWI 99 01 M08] 9 3R3 .m4 i mom R38MO r d m N m n L e Pww m ada l AFP 3 7 7 27.4

[54] DOUBLE CANOPY UMBRELLA 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: An umbrella consisting of a staff, a pair of arms pivoted to said staff adjacent its upper end and normally lying along said staff in parallel relation thereto, each of said arms having a pivoted extension normally aligned therewith, a canopy carried by each of said arm extensions and normally 46T folded therealong, and cable operated means actuated by a References Cited slide on said staff to pivot said arms simultaneously to extend UNITED STATES PATENTS l/l905 Schuller........... .........i.

oppositely from said staff in transverse relation thereto, to ex tend said canopies, and to pivot said arm extensions into parall35/20A lel relation with said staff, whereby said canopies when ex- 1 35/20A tended are disposed in side-by-side relation.

990,632 4/l9ll Burton........................

Sheet .7) g 5 9. E a J n 0 a 0 /B WW Q Q mfifl m H m I a J a 1 i m 0 /8 4 La. I w. M a Z w y? mvavm/z. Reg/71am. Erfel/ Aria/way- Patented Oct. 13, 1970 Sheet DOUBLE CANOPY UMBRELLA SPECIFICATION This invention relates to new and useful improvements in umbrellas, and has as its principal object the provision of an umbrella which has two canopies of the usual type which when raised are disposed in closely spaced side-by-side relation but supported by a single staff so as to be carried by one person, so that when two persons are walking together in the rain, both are fully protected without the usual bumping and interference between umbrellas which occurs when each person carries his own separate umbrella. If one of the persons is a man and the other a woman, it also permits the man to observe the social amenity of being the one to carry the umbrella.

Another object is the provision of an umbrella of the character described in which both of the canopies are foldable to a position closely adjacent the staff for convenient carrying, the entire umbrella then being only slightly more bulky than the usual umbrella having only a single canopy.

A further object is the provision of an umbrella of the character described having a single operating member operable when moved to raise and extend both of the canopies thereof simultaneously.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of structure, and efficiency and dependability of operation.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofa double canopy umbrella embodying the present invention, shown in its lowered or folded position. with parts broken away and shown in section.

FIG. 2 is a reduced side elevational view of the umbrella, shown at the completion of the first step of raising the canopies,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, at the completion of the second step of raising the canopies,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, at the completion of the final step of raising the canopies,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, showing the upper end of the staff and related parts in the position of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view similar to FIG. I, showing the central portion of one of the canopies, and related parts, in the position of FIG. 4,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line VII-VII of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII OF FIG. 1.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to the staff of the umbrella, said staff being formed of metal or other suitable material and being straight and tubular in form, having a slot 4 formed longitudinally therein along a major portion of its length. Said staff is provided at one end with a carrying handle 6 and at its opposite end with an elongated hollow head 8 rigidly affixed thereto and extending laterally in opposite directions therefrom. The hollow interiors of staff 2 and head 8 are in communication with each other. Affixed in head 8, and extending therefrom oppositely to staff 2, is a ferrule 10 which, when the folded umbrella is reversed for use as a walking stick, serves as a ground-engaging tip. A tubular cross arm 12 is affixed to staff 2 adjacent head 8, and extends laterally from said staff in both directions. Said cross arm is parallel with, but of shorter length than head 8. A pair of arms 14 and 116 are pivoted at their inner ends respectively to the opposite ends of cross arm 12, the pivots being indicated at 18, and

' being parallel with each other but transverse to staff 2. Said having a tooth 22 engageable in a notch 24 formed in arm 16 adjacent its pivot 18. Each latch bar is biased toward its engaged position by a spring 26 carried in the cross arm, but may be manually disengaged by means of a pin 28 fixed therein and projecting outwardly through a slot 30 formed in said cross arm.

Pivoted to the outer end of each of arms I4 and 16 as at 32', is a tubular arm extension 34, which may be pivoted either to a position in axial alignment with its associated arm, as in FIGS. I3, or to a position at right angles to said arm,;as in FIG. 4. Said arm extension is releasably secured in axial alignment with its associated arm by a latch bar 36 slidable in the arm extension and having a tooth 38 engageable in a notch 40 formed in the associated arm adjacent pivot 32. Latch bar 36 is biased toward its engaged position by a spring 42 disposed in the arm extension, but may be released mechanically by means of a pin 44 fixed therein and extending outwardly through a slot 46 formed in said arm extension. Latch bar 36 is of such length that pin 44 is disposed adjacent the free end of the arm extension.

Each of arm extensions 34 carries an umbrella canopy 48 of the usual type, consisting of a generally circular sheet of fabric, plastic or other pliable material disposed concentrically with the free end of arm extension 34, and attached to a series of flexible ribs 50, said ribs each being pivoted at 52 to a bracket 54 affixed to the free end of said arm extension. Said ribs may be pivoted either to be closely adjacent and generally parallel to the axis of the arm extension, as of in FIGS. 1 and 2. in which position the umbrella is considered to be "closed or to extend generally radially to the arm, as in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the canopy is considered to be extended or open". The cut of the canopy, and the flexibility of ribs 50, causes it to assume its well-known inverted bowl shape as it is so extended.

The canopy is opened and closed by means including a strut 56 pivoted at one end, as at 58 to each of ribs 50, intermediate the ends of the latter, said struts each being pivoted at its opposite end as at 60, to a tubular slide 62 which is mounted on and slidable along its associated arm 14 or 16 and its extension 34. The pivot joint 32 between each arm and its extensionis externally of such configuration that slide 62 may move freely thereover when said arm and arm extension are axially aligned. Thus, whenever slide 62 is moved toward the free'end of the arm extension, it causes struts 56 to open the canopy as described above, and when the slide is moved in the opposite direction, it closes the canopy. Slide 62 is of such length-that when the canopy is fully opened, as in FIGS. 3, 4 and'8, said slide has moved just far enough to uncover pivot joint 32 to permit pivotal flexure thereof.

A cord or cable 64 is attached at 66 to the slide 62 of arm 14, and a similar cord or cable 68 is attached at 70 to the slide 62 of arm 16. Each of said cords extends first toward the free end of its associated arm extension 34, where it is trained about a pulley 72 carried rotatably by a bracket 74 afiixedto said arm extension adjacent canopy bracket 54. Cord 64 is then extended generally along the side of its associated arm extension 34 and arm 14, and trained around a pulley 76 rotatably mounted in the adjacent end of head 8. Cord 68 is similarly trained about a pulley 78 rotatably mounted in the opposite end of said head. Said cords are then extended. inwardly toward the center of said' head, are trained respectively about a pair of pulleys 80 and 82 rotatably mounted in said head in alignment with staff 2, and extended longitudinally into said staff. Within said staff (see FIGS. 1 and 8) cords'64 and 68 are attached to a transverse pin 84 which extends outwardly through slot 4 of the staff, and is fixed at its outer end in a ring slide 86 which encircles and is movable along the;staff from a position adjacent cross arm 12, where it is releasably secured by a spring latch 88, to a position adjacent handle'6, where it is releasably secured by a spring latch 90. v

When the umbrella is fully closed and folded, as in FIG. 1, arm extensions 34 are axially aligned with their respective arms 14 and 16, and are so secured by latch bars 36, the canopies 48 are folded snugly about their respective arms, and the arms are folded to positions parallel with and closely adjacent staff 2. Slides 62 then extend outwardly from the open ends of the folded canopies, and slide 86 is disposed adjacent cross arm 12, and secured there by spring latch 88. In this position, it will be seen that a pair of upwardly opening hooks 92 carried fixedly by slide 86 and extending oppositely therefrom,

' are in engagement with a pair of downwardly opening hooks 94 carried respectively by the two slides 62. The engagement of these hooks both prevents any tendency of canopies 48 to open, by securing slides 62 against movement on arms 14 and 16, and also prevents said arms from swinging away from staff 2. Thus the folded umbrella may be safely inverted from the position shown in FIG. 1 for convenient carrying by handle 6, or for use as a walking stick.

To open the umbrella, it is held in the position shown in Fig. 1, spring latch 88 is released, and slide 86 is pulled downwardly along staff 2. The initial portion of this movement disengages hooks .92 from hooks 94, freeing arms 14 and 16 for pivoting at 18, and freeing slides 62 for movement along said arms. Continued downward movement of slide 86 pulls cords 64 and 68 to pivot arms 14 and 16 upwardly and outwardly to extend horizontally in opposite directions, as shown in FIG. 2 where they are automatically locked by the engagement of teeth 22 of latch bars in notches 24 of said arms. The capacity of the cords to thus raise the arms is provided by the angularity of the reaches of the cords between pulleys 76 and 78, and pulleys 72, with respect to the arms themselves. This angularity is in turn provided by the fact that pulleys 76 and 78 are spaced apart from staff 2 by a greater distance than are pivots 18 of the arms. During the raising of arms 14 and 16 to their FIG. 2 positions, canopies 48 may also open partially, due to sliding of slides 62 along said arms. However, this is not considered detrimental, since the resistance to opening of the canopies provided by the resilience of their ribs 50 is so great that the arms will be fully raised and secured by latch bars 20 before the canopies are fully opened. Also, if desired, arms 14 and 16 can be pivoted manually to their FIG. 2 positions once hooks 92 and 94 have been disengaged.

Continued downward movement of slide 86 then causes slides 62 to move outwardly along arms 14 and 16, and onto arm extensions 34, to open said canopies fully as shown in FIG. 3. At that moment, slides 62 move completely onto arm extensions 34, uncovering pivot joints 32 between the arms and arm extensions, and simultaneously said slides engage and move pins 44 to disengage teeth 38 of latch bars 36 from notches 40 of the arms. The arm extensions are thus freed to pivot relative to the arms, and continued downward movement of slide 86 pivots said extensions upwardly to dispose the canopies upright in closely spaced side-by-side relation, as shown in FIG. 4. The pivoting of the arm extensions is limited to 90 degrees by the construction of pivot joints 32. Once joints 32 have flexed, slides 62 rest directly on arms 14 and 16 adjacent said pivots, so that the canopies are thereafter held open by means independent of the tension of cords 64 and 68. Said cords, however, must remain taut to hold arm extensions 34 in their upright positions. At this time, slide 86 is engaged and held in its lowered position by spring latch 90. The umbrella is then completely open and ready for use.

To lower and fold the umbrella, spring latch 90 is released and slide 86 moved upwardly on staff 2 to introduce slack into cords 64 and 68. Arm extensions 34 then pivot downwardly by gravity into alignment with arms 14 and 16, freeing slides 62 for inward movement along the arms. The first movement of slides 62 permits re-engagement of latch bars 36 to secure the arms and arm extensions in axial alignment. The canopies are then folded around the arms by moving slides 62 inwardly along the arms, latch bars 20 are disengaged by manual manipulation of their operating pins 28, and arms 14 and 16 are folded downwardly to their FIG. l'positions. The final upward movement of slide 86 reengages books 92 with books 94, and slide 86 is itself engaged by spring latch 88.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A double canopy umbrella comprising:

a. an elongated staff;

b. a pair of arms each pivoted to said staff adjacent the upper and thereof for movement from positions closely adjacent and generally parallel with said staff to positions extending transversely in opposite directions from said staff;

c. an arm extension pivoted to the outer end of each of said arms for movement from a position axially aligned with said arm to a position extending laterally from said arm oppositely from said staff;

d. a foldable umbrella canopy mounted on each of said arm extensions concentrically therewith for movement from a position folded closely about its associated arm extension and arm, when said members are axially aligned, to an open position of bowl shape concentric with said arm extension, the axial dimension of said canopy when opened being less than and disposed between the end limits of its associated arm extension; and operating means carried movably by said staff and operable when moved to successively pivot both of said arms to their raised, transversely extending positions, open both of said canopies, and pivot both of said arm extensions to their transversely extending positions, whereby said open canopies are disposed in closely spaced, side-by-side relation.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1 with the addition of lock means associated with said operating means and operable when engaged both to secure said canopies against opening and also to secure said arms against raising, and means operable by the initial portion of the movement of said operating means in a direction to raise said umbrella, to disengage said locking means.

3. The structure as recited in claim 1 with the addition of latch means carried by said staff and operable to secure each of said arms in its raised position, means biasing said latch means to their operative positions whereby to engage and secure said arms automatically whenever they are raised, and manually operable means for releasing said latch means.

4. The structure as recited in claim 1 with the addition of latch means associated with each of said arm extensions and operable when engaged to secure said arm extension in axial alignment with its associated arm, means biasing said latch means yieldably to their engaged positions, and release means for releasing said latch means, said release means being actuated by said operating means only when said canopies are completely open.

5. The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said canopies includes a series of ribs pivoted to the outer end of the associated arm extension for movement from positions generally parallel with and closely adjacent said arm extension to positions extending generally radially from said extension, said ribs being longer than said arm extension, a pliable canopy cover carried by said ribs whereby to be stretched taut when said ribs are extended, a slide movable along said arm and arm extension, and a series of struts each pivoted at one end to one of said ribs intermediate the ends of the latter and at its opposite end to said slide whereby said ribs are extended by movement of said slide toward the free end of said arm extension, said operating means being operable to move said slide.

6. The structure as recited in claim 5 wherein said slide is movable over the pivotal connection of said arm and arm extension when these members are axially aligned, being disposed entirely on said arm when said canopy is closed and entirely on said arm extension when said canopy is opened, and with the addition of:

a. latch means operable when engaged to secure each arm extension in axial alignment with its associated arm;

b. means biasing said latch means yieldably towards its engaged position; and

c release means carried by said arm extension and actuated by engagement thereof by said slide to release said latch means when the associated canopy is fully opened.

7. The structure as recited in claim 5 wherein said operating means comprises:

a. a second slide movable along said staff;

b. a head fixed to the upper end of said staff and extending transversely in both directions therefrom;

c. a first pair of pulleys carried by said head in alignment with said staff;

d. a second pair of pulleys carried by said head at respectively opposite ends thereof, said second pulleys being disposed in the pivotal plane of said arms but being disposed above and farther apart than the pivotal connections of said arms to said staff;

e. a third pair of pulleys carried respectively by said arm extensions adjacent their outer ends. said third pulleys being disposed within said canopies and at the sides of said arm extensions farthest from said staff when said arms are folded;

fv a pair of cords each having one end secured to said second slide, said cords extending upwardly along said staff, and

each trained successively about one of said first pulleys and one of said second pulleys, outwardly along its associated arm and arm extension, around the third pulley of its associated arm extension, and secured at its opc. a first pair of pulleys carried by said head in alignment with said staff;

d. a second pair of pulleys carried by said head at respectively opposite ends thereof, said second pulleys being disposed in the pivotal plane of said arms but being disposed above and farther apart than the pivotal connec tions of said arms to said staff;

e. a third pair of pulleys carried respectively by said arm extensions adjacent their outer ends, said third pulleys being disposed within said canopies and at the sides of said arm extensions farthest from said staff when said arms are folded;

f. a pair ofcords each having one end secured to said second slide, said cords extending upwardly along said staff, and each trained successively about one of said first pulleys and one of said second pulleys, outwardly along its associated arm and arm extension, around the third pulley of its associated arm extension, and secured at its opposite end to said first slide of the associated arm; and

g. locking means operable to secure said second slide reasonably at either extremity of its travel on said staff.

9. The structure as recited in claim 7 wherein said first slides project outwardly from the open ends of said canopies when said canopies are closed, and are disposed adjacent said second slide when said arms are folded parallel with said staff, and with the addition of:

a. a first hook carried by the extending portion of each of said first slides and opening toward the free ends of said arms; and

b. a pair of second hooks carried by said second slide and opening toward the upper end of said staff, said second hooks being operable to engage said first hooks when said canopies are closed and said arms folded. 

